The prince But smiled, and answered not. She also smiled, But said, "Since thou dost hesitate, I know That thou wouldst surely wed her." Then the prince Made answer: "O my heart, gold of my soul, If she in form and birth were like to thee I'd join her with thy destiny." Now when The princess heard these words she paled and shook. With eyes cast down, she left her royal spouse. But quick he seized her. With a smile he said: "Gold, ruby, dearest friend, I pray thee now, Oh, be not vexed with me. Light of my eyes, Keep not within thy heart a bitterness Because I answered thus unto thy words." He took her in his arms and kissed her lips And wooed her. And her face again grew sweet The while she heard. And yet her woman's heart Was grieved and saddened. And she sat apart, And swift these thoughts came to her anxious mind: "I'll seek to-morrow through this kingdom wide, Lest there should be within the land a maid More fair than I. To death I shall condemn Her straight, lest rival she may be to me. For if my lord should marry her, he'd love Her more than me. He'd love the younger one, And constantly my tortured heart would bleed." They angered her, these thoughts, as if her heart Were filled with gall. "Now may I be accursed If I go not unto the end in love." Her heart was not assuaged; she sighed alone. Upon the morrow morn the King went out, And with him many officers and men. Meanwhile the Princess Lila Sari sent A summons to a jeweller of skill, And at the same time called her four _dyangs_, Who came and sat. Dang Wilapat bowed low And said, "Our greetings to thee, princess great." The Queen replied: "Go forth, _dyangs_, at once And find me gold and dust of gold, and take It all unto a goldsmith. Let him make For me a fan, all decked with beauteous gems, With rubies red and pearls; and after that A girdle virginal. Count not the price. I want it all as quickly as may be." And so they hastened, took the gold, and went Outside the city, through the whole _campong_ Of goldsmiths, seeking there the best to make The fan and girdle. And the hammered gold Soon shone with many amethysts and gems. It was a marvel to behold those rare And quaintly fashioned ornaments, to deck A sultaness. Of priceless worth they were. Four days, and all was ready for the Queen. But she had never eaten all this time Because of grief. She thought the fan more fine Than Java princess ever yet possessed. She called the four _dyangs_ and said to them: "A secret mission have I now for ye. Go up and down among the officers And show this fan for sale, but never name The price. Seek ever if there be a face More beautiful than mine; and should ye find A face more fair, come tell it straight to me. If ye obey my will I'll make ye all Inspectresses within the royal home." Then forth the women went upon the quest.